Participants at the UNRA dialogue with Judicial Officers
The Head of the Commercial Court, Hon. Justice David K. Wangutusi, advised Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to settle their cases through Mediation for faster decisions.
He made these remarks during the opening of a three-day interface between judicial officers and officials UNRA held between November 27 and 29, 2017 at Lake Victoria, Serena, Kigo.
Hon. Justice Wangutusi added that judges need to refrain from injunctions in cases where the complainants are sure to get back their money through general damages.
"When we are making injunctions, we should act with justice behind our minds. Where,for example, I know you can recover money from the damages, I might find it difficult to give you an injunction if I know that you can lose," he said.
He said the relationship between the public and the Judiciary will improve when judicial officers apply justice when handling matters arising from the road network.
The Executive Director of UNRA, Ms Allen Kagina said the conference was organized to enable them (UNRA) sensitive the justices on the contracts for road construction.
Ms Kagina further noted that the authority continue to face challenges like inadequate funding, vehicle overloading which leads to rapid road deterioration, slow land acquisition process and the high expenses due to imported road construction requirements.
She thanked the Judges and the registrars for the support it has always provided for UNRA especially in disposing off the cases.
"You have often prioritized and disposed off pertinent cases that would have otherwise held back progress of works and there by avoiding huge costs on both government and tax payers," Ms Kagina noted.
The Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute, Hon. Justice Dr. Henry Peter Adonyo thanked UNRA for organizing the workshop that will enable dialogue between the two parties and mutual understanding on how to deliver public service to Ugandans.
He urged judicial officers to be cautious when issuing injunctions and put the welfare of the country first.
"Decisions should be ideological instead of basing on only what is on the contract. That can be settled later," he said.
Posted 30th, November 2017
